The School Council members have been talking about our use of technological devices and how it impacts on our lives. We are thinking of writing some guidelines for parents about the sort of rules they should impose at home. The girls are collecting opinions via pastoral groups and some girls are completing more detailed questionnaires.

It seems to be a very hot topic at the moment and there were articles in the national press just this weekend. There has been concern about how screen time affects mental health and general wellbeing. Here at Alfriston, we have been particularly concerned about effects on sleep patterns.

However, this latest research, from Oxford University, suggests that screen time can have beneficial effects on young users. They claim that digital connectivity may enhance creativity, communication skills and development. They suggest that there is an optimal amount of screen time or a “Goldilocks” zone as they put it, about two hours on a smartphone each day, for example.

It will be interesting to see what our pupils think on the matter. If you have any strong opinions or just want to comment on your experiences with your own children, I would be pleased to hear from you.

We hope to publish our guidelines in time for Safer Internet Day on February 7th.